100ish year old Humber

[dimples]

Next project is here. It's a 1920-1930 Humber roadster. Mostly all there, couple of things to track down and a lot of cleaning before I can really tell what needs to be done. Oldest one in the stable by at least 20years.

 

[dimples]

This is what it would have looked like in it's day, or close to it. Mine has (had) rod operated drum brakes front and back.

Images from onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk.

I am undecided whether to go full restoration or whether to go a little more sporty, taking inspiration from these bad boys

 

[dimples]

Loosely assembled. Might need some taller test riders.

 

[Wildcat]

I think the fenderless look is good for that bike. A Brooks saddle would go good also, then just air up the tires.

 

[dimples]

I think the fenderless look is good for that bike. A Brooks saddle would go good also, then just air up the tires.

Cheers mate. I'm leaning that way too. The fenders are in a really bad state and I think a repair is beyond my skills anyway.

 

[musclebikemadman]

Cheers mate. I'm leaning that way too. The fenders are in a really bad state and I think a repair is beyond my skills anyway.

I just picked up a set of Humber forks like yours, I did not realize they may be that old. Mine have mounting holes for a fender so I'm guessing mine are newer

 

[dimples]

I just picked up a set of Humber forks like yours, I did not realize they may be that old. Mine have mounting holes for a fender so I'm guessing mine are newer

They do look really similar, yours are in much better condition. The fender arms on mine went on the axle. They are really cool looking forks, I read that the design was to help with shock absorbing.

 

[us56456712]

BSA of similar vintage. I did this rebuild late last summer.

 

[dimples]

BSA of similar vintage. I did this rebuild late last summer.View attachment 289653View attachment 289654View attachment 289655View attachment 289656View attachment 289657View attachment 289658

That looks awesome, amazing job. Those bars are perfect for that bike and I love that saddle. Thanks for the inspiration

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Beautiful bike! I really love those forks, they inspired me for some ideas.

If you are in need/search for parts, I can recommend this shop:
Nice people, beautiful bikes. But its not in the UK.

BikesToRemember link

 

[dimples]

Beautiful bike! I really love those forks, they inspired me for some ideas.

If you are in need/search for parts, I can recommend this shop:
Nice people, beautiful bikes. But its not in the UK.

BikesToRemember link

Cool cheers mate. I will check it out, I have to track down some parts for the brakes and hub so that will come in handy

 

[us56456712]

That looks awesome, amazing job. Those bars are perfect for that bike and I love that saddle. Thanks for the inspiration

The bars are from a ballon tyre bike. They are reversed and cut down as they didn’t work at full length. It’s fixed gear and tall. I made a mounting peg that’s visible on the right side of the rear hub.

 

[dimples]

The bars are from a ballon tyre bike. They are reversed and cut down as they didn’t work at full length. It’s fixed gear and tall. I made a mounting peg that’s visible on the right side of the rear hub.View attachment 289705View attachment 289712

The Humber is really tall too. I like the mounting peg idea, a very creative solution.

 

[us56456712]

The Humber is really tall too. I like the mounting peg idea, a very creative solution.

I Made the peg by cutting apart a wrench I got at the thrift store and welding an axle nut unto it.

 

[dimples]

I Made the peg by cutting apart a wrench I got at the thrift store and welding an axle nut unto it.View attachment 289759View attachment 289760

Nice one, that's a great idea.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

i put those Humber forks on a Worksman, a few years back. Was challenging finding the correct parts and getting it all to work on a Worksman headset.

 

[dimples]

View attachment 289838i put those Humber forks on a Worksman, a few years back. Was challenging finding the correct parts and getting it all to work on a Worksman headset.View attachment 289839

Looks great mate. I love them frames, really hard to find around here. Looks really slick with them tyres

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I like the uniqueness of the Humber forks. Here is an old a Iver Johnson frame I've added Humber forks to. Those are 29 inch rims in the mock up. You just don't see those forks very often. Plenty of clearance on this baby for a 29er.

 

[dimples]

View attachment 289855View attachment 289856
I like the uniqueness of the Humber forks. Here is an old a Iver Johnson frame I've added Humber forks to. Those are 29 inch rims in the mock up. You just don't see those forks very often. Plenty of clearance on this baby for a 29er.

Another awesome frame. Looks great with them rims. That's going to be a nice looking bike

 

[dimples]

Had a bit of time earlier to start cleaning things up a bit. It looks as if it was blacked out with a brush a long long time ago, judging by the rust through the paint. The blackout was definitely using a brush and was literally every part of the bike without any disassembly.

At some point someone had the idea to repaint some of the missing gold details but were somewhat lacking on the skills department and gave up. Not before this attempt at a head badge??

I am undecided as to the gold, part of me loves how poor it is, part of me is desperate to sort it out incase someone thinks I did it. Haha.

I want to keep the blackout though, seems like it's an important part of it's history and I don't want to lose the rust and age. I have given everything a few layers of a drying oil to protect what is there while I decide.

Roughly chucked together with a spare saddle I had lying around. Seat post is reversed to get me further back and lower cuz this thing is so tall I was getting vertigo up there